Method and apparatus for preparing chignons from tow length fibers



Nov. 14, 1967 s. M. WHEEL OCK METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PREPARING CHIGNONS FIBERS FROM TOW LENGTH I5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct; 5, 1964 INVENTOR Silas M.Wheelock ATTORNEYS Nov. 14. 1967 Filed Oct. 5, 1964 S. M. WHEELOCK FROM TOW LENGTH FIBERS METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PREPARING CHIGNONS 3 SheetsSheet 2 ANTI-STATIC FlG.2.

YINVENTOR Silos M. Wheelock ATTORNEYS S. M. WHEELOCK METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PREPARING CHIGNONS Nov. 14, 1967 FROM TOW LENGTH FIBERS 5 Sheets-$heet Filed Oct. 5, 1964 m wE INVENTOR Silas M. W heelock ATTORNEYS O Patented Nov. 14, 1967 Utah Filed Oct. 5, 1964, Ser. No. 401,402 6 Claims. (Cl. 19-66) The present invention relates to method and apparatus for preparing chignons from tow length fibers, and has for an object to provide a method of preparing chignons from long lengths of tow fibers of the type of Dynel, nylon, Kenekelon and other synthetic filaments.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a method of treating a length of tow while forming the chignon by applying an antistatic on the filaments prior to commencement of the combing action to render the chignon lengths more manageable.

A further object of the present invention is a method of forming chignons in which multiple tows of varying colors may be blended to produce chignons of intermediate shades of basic colors.

A still further object of the present invention is the provision of an apparatus for preparing chignons from tow length fibers in which the apparatus is provided with a tow blending and opening means as well as a means for measuring a length of tow to form a predetermined length of chignon and in which the predetermined length is subjected to a vigorous combing action for blending and orienting the filaments of the tow, as well as the application of an anti-static solution to the chignon being combed to render the same more manageable.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of an apparatus as described above wherein positive driven feed rolls will meter into the combing section of the machine the exact amount of length of tow necessary for a chignon.

A still further object of the present invention is the inclusion in the above apparatus of an anti-static spraying means which is driven in a fixed relationship to the combing means so that a uniform coating of anti-static solution is deposited on the tow proportional to the feed rate of tow through the combing means.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention will be more fully described hereinafter, and will be more particularly pointed out in the claims appended hereto.

In the drawings, wherein like symbols refer to like or corresponding parts throughout the several views:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the chignon forming apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of the apparatus of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a top plan view of the apparatus of FIG URES 1 and 2.

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4-4 in FIGURE 3, having parts broken away and parts shown in section of a combing unit of the combing means.

FIGURE 5 is a side elevational view showing the manner of attachment of a comb unit to the endless chain.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, and for the moment to FIGURE 1, designates a machine bed supported upon legs 11 and having a motor support 12 upon which is carried a motor 13 which drives through chains 14, 15 and 16 a pair of endless chains 17, 18, which chains are moved about sprockets carried on shafts 19 and 20. Secured between chains 17 and 18 are combs 21 having needle-like projections 22 upstanding therefrom for engaging and combing tow material fed thereto.

At the intake end of the machine, best seen in FIGURE 1, is a roll stand 23 in which are mounted feed rolls 24, 25 between which is fed an opened tow 26 which originates from rolls27 rotatably journalled in a tow roll frame 28. The tow from the rolls 27 is passed over an opening member 29 and thence beneath blender rolls 30, 31 and is pressed against an endless belt 32 which supplies the opened tow to the nip of the feed rolls 24, 25.,

Mounted on the roll stand 23 is an anti-static solution spray nozzle 33 in communication with an anti-static solution spray line 34 which contains an anti-static solution supplied thereto through a gear driven pump 35 driven bit the shaft 19. A regulator valve 36 is in circuit with the anti-static solution for regulating the re-circulation of the anti-static liquid from its reservoir 37 through the line 34 to the nozzle 33.

The run of the endless chains 17, 18 and the comb units 21 from the roll stand end of the machine is on an incline, as best seen in FIGURE 2, to elevate the filaments in the direction of the combing action and in the direction away from the midpoint of the machine the run of the chains and combs is directed downwardly. The comb units 21 are secured between the chains 17 and 18 at three inch spaced intervals.

The tow being supplied over the tow opening member 29 and rolls 30, 31, urge the tow into positive engagement with the belt 32, which belt acts as an anti-wrap device to keep filaments of the tow from wrapping around any of the feed rolls of the machine.

In operation, large rolls of tow 27 are placed in the tow stand 28, passed over the tow opening member 29, about the guides 30, 31 and over the belt 32 and in between the nip of the feed rolls 24, 25. When the motor 13 is energized through the chain drive 14, 15, 16 and the positive drive of the feed rolls 24, 25, tow is fed into the combs of the tow combing means. The rate of travel of the endless chains 17, 18 is such as to comb and aline the filaments of the tow into a chignon length, which combed tow has been coated with an anti-static liquid from the nozzle 33. The rate of flow of the anti-static from the nozzle 33 is in a fixed relationship to the linear speed of the combs 21 carried by the endless chains 17, 18.

When the exact length of tow filaments have been fed into the combing unit to define a fixed length of chignon (from 24 to 30 inches), the feed rolls 24, 25 stop and the tow is then cut by hand by the machine operator and the chignon removed from the machine and the machine restarted and a new chignon length of tow is formed in the manner described above by the feed rolls 24, 25 feeding the opened tow into the combing means of the machine.

Chignons of intermediate color from basic colors such as blond, brunette or redhead may be obtained by blending multi-colors on the tow roll stand being fed into the feed rolls and combing means such as silver-brown or gray which would be a blend of black and silver.

Although I have disclosed herein the best form of the invention known to me at this time, I reserve the right to all such modifications and changes as may come within the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. The method of preparing chignon length tow fibers from tow length fibers comprising (a) opening lengths of tow fiber material,

(b) subjecting the opened tow fibers in tow length to a vigorous combing action while measuring out a chignon length,

(0) spraying an anti-static solution on the fibers in tow length immediately prior to commencement of the combing action, and

((1) cutting the thus treated length of tow fibers into chignon lengths.

2. An apparatus for preparing chignon length tow fibers from tow length fibers comprising (a) tow straightening and opening means positioned to receive a tow from a supply source,

(b) measuring meanspositioned to receive the opened and straightened tow from said straightening and opening means,

(c) tow combing means positioned to receive a measured length of tow from the measuring means and comb the tow, and

(d) anti-static spraying means positioned above and in advance of said combing means to spray an antistatic solution on the fibers prior to combing same tokeep the fibers manageable in chignon lengths.

3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said measuring means are positive driven feed rolls between which the opened tow is passed.

4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said tow combing means are a plurality of combs secured to endless chains positioned with one run commencing immediately after introduction of the fibers to the tow comb ing means and beneath the anti-static spray means.

5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said combing means is elevated from said measuring means.

6. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said anti-static spraying means is driven by said combing means so that a uniform coating of an anti-static solution is deposited on the tow proportional to the feed rate of tow through the combing means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 422,638 3/1890 Schussler 19-115 DORSEY NEWTON, Primary Examiner. 

2. AN APPARATUS FOR PREPARING CHIGNON LENGTH TOW FIBERS FROM TOW LENGTH FIBERS COMPRISING (A) TOW STRAIGHTENING AND OPENING MEANS POSITIONED TO RECEIVE A TOW FROM A SUPPLY SOURCE, (B) MEASURING MEANS POSTIONED TO RECEIVE THE OPENED AND STRAIGHTENED TOW FROM SAID STRAIGHTENING AND OPENING MEANS, (C) TOW COMBING MEANS POSITIONED TO RECEIVE A MEASURED LENGTH OF TOW FROM THE MEASURING MEANS AND COMB THE TOW, AND 